Renormalization of a Lorentz invariant doubled worldsheet theory

Manifestly T-duality covariant worldsheet string models can be constructed by doubling the coordinate fields. We describe the underlying gauge symmetry of a recently proposed Lorentz invariant doubled worldsheet theory that makes half of the worldsheet degrees of freedom redundant. By shifting the Lagrange multiplier, that enforces the gauge fixing condition, the worldsheet action can be cast into various guises. We investigate the renormalization of this theory using a non-linear background / quantum split by employing a normal coordinate expansion adapted to the gauge-fixed theory. The propagator of the doubled coordinates contains a projection operator encoding that half of them do not propagate. We determine the doubled target space equations of motion by requiring one-loop Weyl invariance. Some of them are generalizations of the conventional sigma model beta-functions, while others seem to be novel to the doubled theory: In particular, a dilaton equation seems related to the strong constraint of double field theory. However, the other target space field equations are not identical to those of double field theory.Comment: 32 pages; v2: motivation and discussion expanded, references adde

Dispersionless Toda hierarchy and two-dimensional string theory

The dispersionless Toda hierarchy turns out to lie in the heart of a recently proposed Landau-Ginzburg formulation of two-dimensional string theory at self-dual compactification radius. The dynamics of massless tachyons with discrete momenta is shown to be encoded into the structure of a special solution of this integrable hierarchy. This solution is obtained by solving a Riemann-Hilbert problem. Equivalence to the tachyon dynamics is proven by deriving recursion relations of tachyon correlation functions in the machinery of the dispersionless Toda hierarchy. Fundamental ingredients of the Landau-Ginzburg formulation, such as Landau-Ginzburg potentials and tachyon Landau-Ginzburg fields, are translated into the language of the Lax formalism. Furthermore, a wedge algebra is pointed out to exist behind the Riemann-Hilbert problem, and speculations on its possible role as generators of ``extra'' states and fields are presented.Comment: LaTeX 21 pages, KUCP-0067 (typos are corrected and a brief note is added

Topological Subsystem Codes

We introduce a family of 2D topological subsystem quantum error-correcting codes. The gauge group is generated by 2-local Pauli operators, so that 2-local measurements are enough to recover the error syndrome. We study the computational power of code deformation in these codes, and show that boundaries cannot be introduced in the usual way. In addition, we give a general mapping connecting suitable classical statistical mechanical models to optimal error correction in subsystem stabilizer codes that suffer from depolarizing noise.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, explanations added, typos correcte

Algebraic Structures and Eigenstates for Integrable Collective Field Theories

Conditions for the construction of polynomial eigen--operators for the Hamiltonian of collective string field theories are explored. Such eigen--operators arise for only one monomial potential $v(x) = \mu x^2$ in the collective field theory. They form a $w_{\infty}$--algebra isomorphic to the algebra of vertex operators in 2d gravity. Polynomial potentials of orders only strictly larger or smaller than 2 have no non--zero--energy polynomial eigen--operators. This analysis leads us to consider a particular potential $v(x)= \mu x^2 + g/x^2$. A Lie algebra of polynomial eigen--operators is then constructed for this potential. It is a symmetric 2--index Lie algebra, also represented as a sub--algebra of $U (s\ell (2)).$Comment: 27 page

Loop Approach to Lattice Gauge Theories

We solve the Gauss law and the corresponding Mandelstam constraints in the loop Hilbert space ${\cal H}^{L}$ using the prepotential formulation of $(d+1)$ dimensional SU(2) lattice gauge theory. The resulting orthonormal and complete loop basis, explicitly constructed in terms of the $d(2d-1)$ prepotential intertwining operators, is used to transcribe the gauge dynamics directly in ${\cal H}^{L}$ without any redundant gauge and loop degrees of freedom. Using generalized Wigner-Eckart theorem and Biedenharn -Elliot identity in ${\cal H}^L$, we show that the loop dynamics for pure SU(2) lattice gauge theory in arbitrary dimension, is given by the real symmetric $3nj$ symbols of first kind (e.g., n=6, 10 for d=2, 3 respectively). The corresponding "ribbon diagrams" representing SU(2) loop dynamics are constructed. The prepotential techniques are trivially extended to include fundamental matter fields leading to a description in terms of loops and strings. The SU(N) gauge group is briefly discussed.Comment: 32 pages, 9 figures, typos corrected, new references added (to be published in Nucl. Phys. B

Superconformal Vortex Strings

We study the low-energy dynamics of semi-classical vortex strings living above Argyres-Douglas superconformal field theories. The worldsheet theory of the string is shown to be a deformation of the CP^N model which flows in the infra-red to a superconformal minimal model. The scaling dimensions of chiral primary operators are determined and the dimensions of the associated relevant perturbations on the worldsheet and in the four dimensional bulk are found to agree. The vortex string thereby provides a map between the A-series of N=2 superconformal theories in two and four dimensions.Comment: 22 pages. v2: change to introductio